Lonely Planet

"Making locals happy since 1864, this şekerlemeleri (sweets shop) sells lokum (Turkish Delight). Put your sweet tooth to good use in the upstairs cafe, or choose a selection of indulgences to take home."

Annika Ziehen

"My food tour in Istanbul concluded at renowned Hafiz Mustafa 1864, apparently selling the best baklava in town. Whether it is the best I cannot say but it was pretty good and most importantly for me – not overly sweet. Especially if you are looking for a fancy cafe option it seems the place to be."

Eat Your World

"A sweet, gooey pudding with a caramelized sugar exterior and shredded chicken breast incorporated throughout. Weird but quite tasty! This restaurant also serves an incredible fig custard pudding."

The Passport Memorandum

"Lokum, or Turkish delights, are the perfect companion to a Turkish coffee or tea. The best way to try different types is going to a big place like Hafiz Mustafa where you mix-and-match them when ordering. Then, you can go and buy a kilogram or two of the one you like best!"

Terry Richardson

"Turks don't just savor post-dinner sweets—they also make sweets to go with Turkish coffee (Turkish delight), and these and more can be found in this popular old-fashioned sweet shop. Turkish delight in every flavor and color imaginable can be bought and eaten there or taken home, neatly arranged in little boxes. It's very easy to get carried away here, so choose wisely, order a tea, and have a taste before buying to take away."

Audrey Bergner

"When it came time to order, I opted for the pomegranate with chunks of pistachio and shredded coconut, while Sam went with the classic strawberry dusted in powder sugar. If you ever find yourself in Istanbul, make some time to pop into a Turkish delight shop! Not only is it a fun way to spend the afternoon, but your friends and family back home will also thank you when you bring back a box of treats as a souvenir."

Terry Richardson

"Baklava made from ultra-thin flaky pastry, soaked in syrup, and studded with pistachios and walnuts comes in a myriad of different shapes. It's very easy to get carried away here, so choose wisely, order a tea, and have a taste before buying to take away."

Travel with Jules

"Best 3 baklava shops in Istanbul: Hafiz Mustafa - Excellent baklava and great service! This famous Turkish dessert shop which opened its doors in 1864 got several locations and two of the main shops are open 24 hours, so you got no excuses not to check it out!"

Shoprs

"Best Places to Buy Baklava in Istanbul: Hafiz Mustafa - You can’t miss Hafiz Mustafa in Taksim Square as it is one of the oldest baklava shops in Istanbul and a great spot for tea and cakes. There is a wide variety of flavors in Baklava at Hafiz Mustafa. Buy a single piece nibble on or choose a selection box which is an ideal Istanbul souvenir."

The Winged Fork

"If you have a sweet tooth, then the Hafiz Mustafa pastry shops are going to be your favourite places in Istanbul. Everything we’ve tried there, including baklava (filo pastry with pistachio and butter) was simply and undoubtedly divine. So, perhaps you’ll need more than one trip to Hafiz Mustafa in order to appreciate these tastes to the fullest."